Chapter 280.4: One Wave Yet to Settle, Another Wave Rising
Su Ting directly trembled all over, but she indeed couldn’t do anything. And the part that gave her the most headache was that her father actually already picked a family for her. Her yiniang had inadvertently learned about it. Right now, everyone was still being kept in the dark, only because the other party was Jiangnan’s four prefecture and twenty-eight fu’s number one salt merchant. According to yiniang, never mind that that person was a big fatty, on the surface smiling like a Maitreya[1], but in reality was vicious and merciless, especially on bed matters, having unusual hobbies. The women that have died on his bed were countless. That father of hers that appeared to be extremely good to her, for the sake of money, will soon have her sent to such a person. Moreover, because he was a second rank high official, how could he openly do such a lowly thing, so when time comes, he will certainly let her fake her death. As such, she won’t even have an actual ident.i.ty, just a plaything used to exchange for money, a finalized business transaction. And if she dies, she won’t even a scoop of dirt for burial either. If not because of this, why would she take a risk out of desperation.
All say Jin w.a.n.gfei is benevolent and kindhearted, but in reality, didn’t she still reveal her true form, malicious, easily jealous, and used to putting on an act. Such a person, what right does she have to stand by Jin Qinw.a.n.g, that kind of G.o.dlike handsome man’s side? If it was her, if it was her………………..
So what if she figured out that she won’t give up, she indeed won’t give up. She was the most beautiful woman in Kaiming Fu, and her talents didn’t lose to any upper cla.s.s daughters. How many young masters of Kaiming Fu topple over for her. Moreover, her skill in serving men…………..any man that gets served by her once, all will no longer be able to leave her. So what if Jin Qinw.a.n.g has gone through countless beauties, he similarly won’t be able to refuse her, won’t be able to refuse her. Su Ting clenched her fist, clenching so tightly that her palm bled.
Don’t know whether she was using this kind of method to console herself, or really had this confidence.
However, there was one thing that was certain, she definitely don’t want to be sent out like this, definitely don’t want…………….
Speaking of which, the madams were also surprised at Jing Wan’s att.i.tude. The previous time they saw her like this was when she was kicking out the General Commissioner’s Ru Madam. Should say, this w.a.n.gfei actually had the personality of someone with clear likes and dislikes, and the things she didn’t like, she definitely won’t wrong herself? This kind of personality actually made one envy, but not that many people have the courage to become like her. Moreover, for her to be able to be like this now, it was probably relying on Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s fondness and indulgence. If one day, this love completely disappears, what will she do?
What will she do? Jing Wan expressed, she was already suffering inside right now, yet have nowhere to tell. She already bluntly and directly had the person brushed off, yet this one was still unsatisfied, disdaining that her methods were too soft. It was obvious that this problem simply didn’t get resolved.
Jing Wan just felt she was extremely wronged.
Jing Wan got ‘bothered in various ways’ by the living Enma, and could only ‘angrily’ end the banquet early, also stating that in the following couple of days, she wants to visit the nearby areas around Kaiming Fu, so for the time being, won’t be receiving the madams, moreover hoping that she can peacefully play around.
Although it wasn’t obvious on her face, everyone still felt that Su…..Ting, sure enough, angered her. Yet, they never thought that it would also cause her to not want to meet with them as well.
The banquet was set at the Governor-General’s Manor. Since the main party has already left, the rest naturally won’t continue staying. Just, when they saw the Inspector General outside, they fakely smiled as they ‘praised’ his good tricks. The Inspector General was rather highly skilled, amicably smiling as he interacted with them.
After getting on his own horse carriage, Inspector General Su directly let someone have Su Ting called over. Seeing her face, he also for the most part had an understanding inside. However, he just pretended that he didn’t see. Although he wasn’t smiling, he didn’t get angry either. But, precisely because it was like this, it further made one scared. Su Ting curled up in fear, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Inspector General Su’s finger tapped on his knee, finally opening his mouth slowly, “Did you find out already?”
Su Ting wanted to feign ignorance, but her reaction already betrayed her, and when she wanted to cover it up, it was already too late. In front of others, she could still very skillfully control her own expressions, but in front of her father, she was unable to in the slightest.
“Looks like you already know, did your yiniang tell you?”
“Father, father, it has nothing to do with yiniang, it was me, it was me………” Su Ting hurriedly explained.
“Your mother is a smart one, but sometimes, too smart for her own good. What good can there be telling you? Nothing more than just struggling on the deathbed. You taking a risk out of desperation this time actually isn’t considered bad, and I’ll also give you one last chance, letting you struggle till the end. Just see if you can manage to survive. I don’t care whether you sell your cleverness, or sell your misery, but just remember, if you say something you shouldn’t say, even if you enter Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor, I will still have a way to let you be unable to live and unable to die.”
Su Ting knew that this father of hers wasn’t a good person, but speaking this bluntly was also a first. Her tears uncontrollably fell. “Father, just begging you to not make things difficult for yiniang.”
“Why would I make things difficult for her, she’s just a lowly concubine that can’t even step out of the second gate.”
Su Ting’s tears fell even harder. She originally thought, towards the two of them, he still had a bit of feelings, yet in the end…………..Then, what about younger brother?
“Why don’t you withdraw for now.”
Su Ting bowed, and wordlessly climbed down from the horse carriage.
The Inspector General’s Madam wanted to say a bit of something, but in the end, didn’t say anything.
Rather, it was the Inspector General that indifferently opened his mouth, “I prepare to have her given to Salt Boss Tie.”
The Inspector General’s Madam suddenly clenched her fist, looking to this man, whose expression was the same as usual, in disbelief. However, he just closed his eyes to rest. Despite having been husband and wife for several decades, in this moment, she actually felt that she seemingly has never been familiar with this man before. His care towards that pair of mother and daughter in the past, once made her both bitter and jealous, yet turns out, that woman in his eyes was just a lowly concubine, and that daughter was an object. He was far more ruthless and heartless than she’d imagined.
“The first time you went to meet Jin w.a.n.gfei, Jin w.a.n.gfei should have already promised to reduce the money, right?” The Inspector General said, not questioning, but rather a.s.serting.
The Inspector General Madam’s pupil shrunk, her lips stammering, unconsciously tightening her fist even more. She thought that she’d taken care of it flawlessly, yet unexpectedly…………..
“Don’t know why you all still acted out such a play in the end, but the idea certainly couldn’t have been proposed by you all. Even if it’s Jin w.a.n.gfei’s idea, Jin Qinw.a.n.g certainly isn’t innocent either. Intuition-wise, Jin Qinw.a.n.g isn’t a simple person. If you have the chance, pay Jin w.a.n.gfei a visit again. Some things, you don’t really need to meticulously scheme for. The things you want, I’ll just give you, just, for some things, you best explain to me clearly, so that I can better a.n.a.lyze the situation, and can also let me make even more preparations. One has to know, a tiny leak or mistake can all end the entire chess match.”
“My lord………”
“Why don’t you tell me, what the circ.u.mstances were like every time you met with Jin w.a.n.gfei.”
“Yes.” The Inspector General’s Madam slightly lowered her head, compliantly recounting.
As for Jing Wan, she had returned to the villa with Li Hong Yuan. Li Hong Yuan took the opportunity to eat his fill, and just ‘slightly’ went overboard a little, angering Jing Wan, and getting kicked out of the room, kicked to go sleep in the study. This time, Jing Wan really was furious, not having the slightest leeway to remedy the situation. Li Hong Yuan was a tiny bit embarra.s.sed, ‘gloomily’ rolling to the study.
However, when his subordinates saw him, he was still that wise and valiant.
Li Hong Yuan’s gaze somewhat sharpened, “Tong Prefecture’s Inspector General? Heh……..An Yi, order someone to thoroughly investigate this old dog. Have all eight generations of ancestors all clearly investigated, all the branches and splits, the distant relatives and neighbors, not a single one can be let off.”
[1] Maitreya – Also known as the Laughing Buddha, representing joy and happiness.
T/N: Whenever characters mention things they learn from rumors in this novel, I just think, ah yes, because rumors are so reliable.